The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 42

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Maxed-Out Player’s 100th Return – Episode 42
42. Lunch with Ma Gyeong-rok
‘Pristine.’
The scene that had been drenched in blood transformed as if by magic into spotless cleanliness.
Jang Seok-hyun’s corpse had vanished without a trace.
All thanks to the universal skill I’d just learned.
[Universal Skill – Erase Traces]
-Effect: Eliminates all evidence from a scene—corpses, blood, fingerprints, footprints, and more.
‘The performance is undeniably solid.’
The scene gleamed like new, exactly as the skill description promised.
It was nearly impossible to believe a murder had occurred here.
The twenty thousand gold I’d invested was worth every bit.
‘This is how cleanup should be done—flawlessly.’
There was no need to ponder how such a thing was possible.
After all, this was a world where skills could resurrect the dead.
‘No wonder players swagger around so freely with this available.’
Erase Traces was the perfect skill for committing crimes and covering your tracks.
It might as well have been designed explicitly to encourage criminal activity.
Eventually, players would emerge who specialized in erasing traces for others.
‘Though they’d demand items in exchange.’
It wasn’t free, but demand would be high.
Handing over a single item to have traces erased was cheaper than grinding twenty thousand gold to learn the skill yourself.
‘There might be such players now, but later on, those offering skill services will multiply.’
At level forty, the [Trade] function unlocks.
A feature allowing players to exchange items and gold with one another.
That’s when players begin conducting serious gold trading operations.
Using universal skills like Tracking or Erase Traces to locate people for others or clean up murder scenes for a fee.
‘I have no intention of engaging in such gold trading myself.’
Tracking and Erase Traces would see plenty of use in my future.
For Ryu Min, purchasing these services was the better choice than outsourcing.
‘Besides, I have no desire to involve myself in others’ crimes for a few coins.’
I’d already devised a method for generating gold.
None other than leveraging Ma Gyeong-rok’s company.
‘We’re meeting for lunch tomorrow, right?’
Recalling my lunch appointment with Ma Gyeong-rok, I cleaned up the scene and left the Abandoned Factory.
I harbored no thoughts or concerns about the murder itself.
‘I should pick up a suit for tomorrow.’
My mind was occupied solely with meeting Ma Gyeong-rok.
All thoughts of Jang Seok-hyun had long since faded away.
* * *
The next day at lunch.
Ryu Won couldn’t help but be startled when he saw his older brother dressed in a formal suit.
It was the first time he’d ever seen him in formal attire.
“Brother, do you have a date planned for the weekend?”
“A date? What date are you talking about?”
“You suddenly put on a suit, so I thought…”
“I have an important appointment.”
“Who are you meeting?”
“A business partner.”
“Huh? Are you going into business, brother?”
As Ryu Min nodded, his younger brother’s expression grew anxious.
Watching him carefully, I could sense his thoughts without fail.
-First he went all-in on stocks, and now he’s dabbling in business? What if he fails? He’ll be so disappointed.
My brother was worried not just about money, but about the emotional toll it might take.
‘Even after all this success, he’s still worried. I suppose it’s natural to look uncertain?’
A smile formed at the corner of Ryu Min’s mouth.
“I’ll tell you the details once things go well with my business partner. Don’t worry too much. You trust me, right?”
“Of course I do! Who else would I trust if not you?”
“Then stay home and wait. It’s dangerous outside because of the Players.”
“I saw the news too. They say Players are using their abilities for crime and it’s a real problem. I heard that in other countries, criminals have even escaped from prison?”
“Once criminals reach a certain age, they become Players without exception.”
The world’s rapid transformation was inevitable.
With the population declining each month and Players growing stronger, it would be strange if nothing changed.
‘This is nothing. Later, an era will come where ordinary people are hunted without hesitation and enslaved.’
A true lawless age where Players held all the power and laws meant nothing.
Before this city became such a lawless place.
‘I need to build overwhelming strength and raise Black Scythe’s reputation even further.’
Ryu Min put on his shoes and spoke.
“Anyway, be careful when you go outside. Most people have acquired jobs in this third round, so the overall level of Players has improved. That means it’s become more dangerous.”
“Got it. But when are you going to tell me about your job?”
“It’s a secret.”
“I’m curious though.”
“I’ll tell you soon, so stop pestering me.”
“Really?”
Leaving my excited younger brother behind, I opened the door.
“I’m going to have lunch with my business partner. Don’t wait for me—eat something yourself. Get something more expensive than jjajangmyeon.”
* * *
Oseong Group—a mega-conglomerate that every Korean citizen knows.
Ryu Min stepped into the lobby of a hotel under the Oseong Group.
It was none other than Ma Gyeong-rok’s hotel.
‘I figured he’d want to meet here. After all, even soccer is easier to win on your home field.’
But the fact that Ma Gyeong-rok owned the Hotel was classified information at best.
Moreover, Cheonma Consulting wasn’t even under the Oseong Group.
It was a company Ma Gyeong-rok had secretly established to gain recognition from his father.
‘Probably no one else among ordinary people knows this information.’
At most, only Ma Gyeong-rok’s close relatives would know.
That’s why I needed to leverage this information strategically to appeal to Ma Gyeong-rok.
To demonstrate my value.
‘But first, image management.’
Ryu Min glanced around nervously and approached the front desk with an innocent expression.
“Oh, hello. I have an appointment, and I was told to let the desk know when I arrived at the hotel…”
“Ah, is this the appointment with the Cheonma Consulting representative?”
“Yes.”
The staff member touched their earpiece and spoke kindly.
“The representative will arrive shortly. Would you mind waiting in the lounge over there? I’ll guide you when they arrive.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I bowed respectfully and sat in the lobby lounge with an awkward gait, waiting.
While waiting, I gazed up at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, my mouth hanging open like a fool.
This was all part of my contingency image management.
Then I saw An Sang-chul entering through the lobby doors.
‘He’s here.’
I tried my best not to show recognition, gazing around the hotel interior with an expression of wonder.
An Sang-chul, who had been conversing at the desk, walked toward me.
“Are you Ryu Min?”
“Oh, yes! Hello…”
Ryu Min pretended to be startled.
Even the normally expressionless An Sang-chul showed a look of surprise.
They had met before.
“Haven’t we met before? At Galleria Forest.”
“Ah… yes. I think I saw you when I was making the rounds with rice cakes after moving in upstairs. You were the one standing next to actress Seo A-rin, weren’t you?”
At Ryu Min’s words, An Sang-chul recalled that situation.
“That’s correct. Are you perhaps the major shareholder of Cheonma Consulting?”
“Yes.”
The moment I answered, An Sang-chul bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
“I apologize for my rudeness last time.”
On the surface, he was apologizing, but his true feelings were different.
-This kid who doesn’t even look twenty is the major shareholder who invested 280 billion? That doesn’t make sense.
On the surface, he maintained an expressionless face, but internally he was suspicious.
A faint wariness could be glimpsed in his eyes.
‘Well, it’s a natural reaction, isn’t it? There’s no way someone my age could have that much money.’
That said, I had no obligation to convince An Sang-chul right now.
The person I needed to speak with was Ma Gyeong-rok.
Of course, my reaction at this moment was predetermined.
“Ah, it’s quite alright. You didn’t know any better. I also wasn’t aware that the representative of Cheonma Consulting lived upstairs….”
“Oh! Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not the representative.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“My apologies for the late introduction. I’m An Sang-chul, Executive Director. The representative will be arriving shortly, so I came ahead.”
“Ah, I see.”
I pretended not to know, even though I knew everything.
This was the appropriate reaction when claiming ignorance of Ma Gyeong-rok.
“Let’s head inside and wait for the representative.”
“Yes, of course.”
I followed An Sang-chul into the restaurant inside the Hotel.
True to its status as South Korea’s premier conglomerate’s hotel, the restaurant interior was lavish.
“Wow.”
I gazed around the restaurant with my mouth agape, like a country bumpkin fresh off the bus to Seoul.
I caught An Sang-chul glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
‘A suspicious gaze.’
More than just his expression—I could sense his thoughts as well.
Well, that was intentional.
“Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable. The representative should arrive soon.”
“Of course.”
As I sat in the private booth and waited blankly, An Sang-chul fiddled with his phone by the door.
-Representative. After meeting him first, he appears to be a substitute brought in by someone else. He doesn’t seem like the type to invest such substantial capital directly. He may have been sent by someone else, so please be cautious.
The message content transmitted directly into my mind.
Even seeing only his back, I could read his thoughts.
‘Just as I suspected. He sent An Sang-chul ahead as a scout.’
I had anticipated this.
Someone as meticulous about self-management as Ma Gyeong-rok would never be late to such an important appointment.
Moments later.
The door slid open.
“Good afternoon.”
A man with masculine features and an impressive height entered.
It was none other than Ma Gyeong-rok.
Unlike Ryu Min, whose short stature made formal wear look awkward, he wore his suit with impeccable style.
“I’m Ma Gyeong-rok, representative of Cheonma Consulting.”
“Ah… I’m Ryu Min.”
I stood up hastily and grasped the hand he extended.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Yes….”
“Director An, please have a seat beside me.”
“Of course.”
Without waiting for permission, Ma Gyeong-rok had An Sang-chul join him at the table.
‘Subtly trying to seize control of the conversation, I see.’
Perhaps sensing my gaze, Ma Gyeong-rok smiled as if asking for understanding.
“Director An is the employee I trust more than anyone. It should be fine for him to listen in on our discussion, correct?”
“Ah, yes. That’s perfectly fine.”
“Thank you. Before we discuss business, let’s eat first. I’ve arranged for Korean fine dining—I hope it suits your palate.”
“At a luxury hotel like this, anything they serve would be delicious.”
Shortly after, the prepared dishes arrived according to Ma Gyeong-rok’s instructions.
Soup, cold appetizers, fish porridge, grilled Korean beef, braised short ribs, stone pot rice, bibimbap, and more.
As we progressed through the elegantly plated course meal one dish after another.
The three of us focused solely on eating, exchanging little conversation.
“This is truly delicious.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste.”
Only occasional pleasantries passed between us.
But for me, someone who could read hidden thoughts, this silence was far from meaningless.
‘Reading his mind, his thoughts seem quite complicated.’
Even without speaking, I could discern what he was thinking.
‘He’s troubled by the suspicion that I’m acting under someone else’s orders.’
And indeed, that was the case.
-Director An’s right. For someone to invest 280 billion won, he’s far too young. He looks barely twenty at most, doesn’t he? And he doesn’t seem to have the resolve for something like this.
Observing Ma Gyeong-rok, I sensed the complexity of his thoughts.
-He must have backing. Someone’s set him up as a puppet. Who ordered this? His brothers? An uncle? What are they planning to do with our company’s management rights?
Though Ma Gyeong-rok appeared relaxed on the surface, sipping his tea, his inner turmoil was evident.
-Whatever the case, I’ll have to extract information by getting him to talk.
Unaware that his thoughts were being read, Ma Gyeong-rok opened the conversation.
“When I first met you, Ryu Min, I was truly shocked. To think the major shareholder is someone so young. If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”
“I’m twenty.”
“Twenty years old?”
Ma Gyeong-rok’s expression showed surprise, though his eyes remained composed.
-As expected, he’s young. So he really is acting under someone’s orders?
His reaction confirmed his expectation of my youth.
-Still, I can’t let my guard down. The fact that he’s survived this far, past the third round, means he has real ability despite his naive appearance. Though luck might have played a part.
Ma Gyeong-rok didn’t underestimate his opponent simply because of his youth.
Witnessing this, I felt genuine admiration internally.
‘So this is Ma Gyeong-rok. A true talent who survives to the fifteenth round.’
Unlike An Sang-chul, he didn’t hastily dismiss or belittle his opponent.
He observed with the keen gaze of a hawk, maintaining vigilance until he could accurately assess his opponent’s capabilities.
Yet Ma Gyeong-rok’s poker face was so perfect that he revealed none of these inner thoughts.
“Twenty years old? I’m twenty-nine. How delightful to meet a fellow member of my generation. Ha ha.”
“Yes… I’m delighted as well.”
“How does someone so young come to possess such a substantial sum? Are you perhaps from a conglomerate family?”
‘Quite direct, isn’t he.’
Ryu Min waved his hand dismissively and replied.
“A conglomerate? No. As you might suspect, there’s no one backing me. Until recently, I was nothing more than an ordinary student.”
“Until recently?”
Ryu Min sensed the moment had come to broach the main topic and opened his mouth.
“Have you seen the news?”
“What…?”
“The story about the sudden millionaire who won the lottery jackpot five times in a row.”
“Ah yes. I did see it.”
Ryu Min’s lips curved upward as he spoke.
“That would be me.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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